Man, 71, dies after ‘running to the help his wife’

A 71-year-old man who ran to his wife’s aid as she was being robbed has died, police have confirmed. 

The robbery was taking place at Wylie’s Newsagent, in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, yesterday at around 3.40 pm. 

A man brandishing a knife entered the store and threatened the 63-year-old shop keeper, before demanding money and fleeing with a small amount of cash. 

Is is thought the worker’s husband had heard about the crime and ran to the shop, where he collapsed. 

The pensioner was rushed to Crosshous Hospital but was sadly pronounced dead a short time later. 

Police said the shop keeper was left uninjured but was left very distressed. 

A post-mortem examination is to take place to determine the cause of the 71-year-old man. 

The suspect who robbed the store has been described as white, 5ft 8in tall, with a medium build. 

The suspect was wearing a blue rain jacket with the hood up, blue jeans and a black scarf covering his face.  

Det Insp Fraser Normansell said: ‘This was a very traumatic experience for the 63-year-old shop assistant who not only suffered the ordeal of the robbery itself but also witness the elderly man collapsing in the aftermath of the incident.

‘It is vital that we trace the culprit and stop him from causing any further harm and distress and as such I urge anyone was in the vicinity of Springdale Street in Saltcoats around 3:40pm on Friday January 12 2018 and may have seen the suspect hanging around the area to contact police at Saltcoats immediately.’

He added: ‘I also appeal to any drivers who were in the area to check their dash cams as they may have captured the suspect on their camera. 

‘If so, I ask that they also contact police urgently.’